The Washington critic., 1887-12-08

praised the work OF the White Cross
Society. The personal purity Of men
should be greatcr--ns great as that OF
women, Young men must be encour-
aged by the association Of good mon
with them.
The next TO take part in the discus.
sion was Professor Simeon Il. Baldwin
of the New Haven Law School. Ancient
history taught, he said, that the neccs-
sity Of personal purity had not been so
we'll appreciated by any church as the
Roman Catholics lie eulogizcd the
Catholic Church for its Christian work in
this direction. His praise of this Church
body of delegates obiecting to this
Church"
QUITE A DEMONSTRATION.
He continued his praise, and II was
answered by mingled applause aud
hisscs, those applauding far outnum-
bering the hisscrs. After the Professor
finished, President Dodge arose and ex.
planned that the Alliance was not op.
posed TO the Roman Catholic Church,
though not concurring in all their be
liels. The Alliance would defend with
its hearts blood the rights claimed by
themselves.
Rev. j. W. Williams, bishop of the
Baltimore diocese, then discussed the
social problem for five minues. The
Woman rules the world.e He spoke feel.
ingly, and was loudly applauded.
lie was followed by Rev. NJ. w. Cres-
ley Of Philadelphia, who spoke u few
words from the floor. He is II young
looking man, with n smooth face and
black curly hair, and warmly and
iorcibly echoed the preceding senti-
ments.
Mr.. Crcslcy paid 4 high tribute TO the
"queenly intellect of Frances u. Will
| lard" and at the close of his remarks
the organ pealed forth the preliminary
notes of the hymn "Onward, Christian
soldiers" which the whole assemblage
took part in singing.
GENERAL EAToN ON "ILLITERAcY."
President Dodge then introduced the
notwithstanding General John Eaton,
Ill. D., late U. $. Commissioner of Edu-
cation, now president of the Marietta
Ohio College, who read the paper on
"Illiteracy." General Eaton regarded
all who could not read and write rs illit-
crate. "On education" the speaker
continued, depended all advancement
in social and political life. Sixty-nine
per cent, of the colored voting popula-
tion and eight per cent. of the white
voters are illiterate. In eleven States
the number of illiteratc voters outnum-
bered the vote of either party in the
Presidential election occurring about the
time the statistics were taken, and this
illiteratc vote could, If united, elect
twenty-five Senators and q correspond
ing number of Representatives.
If our liberties depended on the will
of sovereign there might be less cause
for alarm at the prevalence of illiteracy.
In all questions between capital and
labor, illiteracy impedes their settle
ment. The illiterate are also more apt
to be paupers and criminals.
The paper was interlarded with statis-
tics of great value and showing the pre-.
valence and possible results Of il
literacy. Illiterate people are less able
to take proper care of their health and
are vehicles of contagious diseases and
thus endanger the lives Of whole com.
munities. llliteracy is also to grca,
extent the cause of crime. In one penal
institution the ancestry Of sixty prisoners
was traced to single ancestor and he
still alive. 1t is illiteracy and consc-
quent inability TO appreciate our free in
stitutions that causes much of the anar.
chcial disturbances in this country, and
good work of the church. The church
has special mission to teach. The
Alliance should turn its attention TO thit
subject, where there is a grand work Ia
do. The attendance of every child on
public schools during q certain time
should be made absolutely certain. AL
the various States have free schools, bu,
the term of school attendance is not lonp
enough in many.
The secretary's bell was rung several
times to indicate that his time had cx'
pired before the General finished his
paper, but he was encouraged by ap
plause from the audience to proceed
which he did, though he did not have
time to complete it.
One of the delegates on the floor arose
and asked that the thirty minute rule b.
observed.
Discussion was invited, and DR.. Nicho
las Butler of the Industrial Association
College of New York, pale young man
with II loud voice, spoke few minute
on the great dangers of illiteracy, espec
tally moral illiteracy. He spoke warmly
of the worth Of the manual trpinin,
movement which is sweeping over tst
country. :
President Dodge announced that the hopi
for closing had arrived, and the hymn be-
ginning "Onward, Christian soldiers wa'
sung He also called attention TO the fac
that the Conference could not take action OF
any of the many resolutions sent After tn,
hymn had been sung the bcncdicton wa,
pronounced by DR.. McCosh, President o
Princeton College.
nI....ln.,4I l,I..I, IrIaaata..